Necktie

ABSTRACT

A preformed necktie including a knot portion having an opening therethrough, rigid means secured to the knot portion and disposed within the opening therethrough, a front, depending tie portion secured to the knot portion, a rear, depending tie portion having a neck embracing loop, partially extending through the opening in the knot portion, the lower inner edges of the neck embracing loop of the rear, depending tie portion having interlockable means, and means secured to the rigid means, within the opening in the knot portion and operatively connected to the interlockable means of the rear, depending portion for interlocking and unlocking the interlockable means upon relative movement between the interlockable means and the interlocking and locking means for varying the size of the loop of the rear, depending tie portion.

United States Patent 1 Byrd et al.

1 NECKTIE [75] lnventors: David J. Byrd, Orange; Deane F.

Harris, Gordonsville, both of Va.

[73] Assignee: Byrd Associates, Orange, Va.

[22] Filed: Jan. 24, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 436,377

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney, Agent, or FirmMason, Fenwick & Lawrence [451 Aug. 12, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT A preformed necktie including a knot portion having an opening therethrough, rigid means secured to the knot portion and disposed within the opening therethrough, a front, depending tie portion secured to the knot portion, a rear, depending tie portion having a neck embracing loop, partially extending through the opening in the knot portion, the lower inner edges of the neck embracing loop of the rear, depending tie portion having interlockable means, and means secured to the rigid means, within the opening in the knot portion and operatively connected to the interlockable means of the rear, depending portion for interlocking and unlocking the interlockable means upon relative movement between the interlockable means and the interlocking and locking means for varying the size of the loop of the rear, depending tie portion.

18 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures NECKTIE This invention relates to a necktie and more particularly to a preformed, four-in-hand type of necktie which is adapted to be easily and quickly fitted around and removed from the neck of a wearer.

In the prior art, there are various types of preformed, four-in-hand neckties similar in many respects to the present invention. It has been found, however, that because of the particular construction and appearance of such prior art designs, such neckties are not sufficiently commercially feasible. It accordingly has been found to be desirable to provide a preformed, four-in-hand necktie-which not only is feasible to manufacture but is capable of effectively simulating hand-tied, four-inhand neckties.

It therefore is the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel necktie.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel, preformed four-in-hand necktie.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel, preformed four-in-hand necktie which not only is feasible to manufacture but is capable of effectively simulating a hand-tied, four-in-hand necktie.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel, preformed four-in-hand necktie which is asthetic in appearance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel, preformed four-in-hand necktie including a knot portion, a front, depending tie portion and a rear, depending tie portion including a loop adapted to be fitted around the neck of the wearer, having the lower portion thereof passing through the knot portion, wherein the lower end of the rear, depending tie portion may be passed freely through the knot portion without disturbing the other portions of the necktie.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, viewed from the rear;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a partial, perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, illustrating the components thereof in exploded relation.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated an embodiment of the invention generally including a knot portion 10, a front, depending tie portion 11, a rear, depending tie portion 12 and a rigid plate member 13. The knot portion is formed from a narrow piece of suitable fabric having the upper and lower edges thereof hemmed as at 14 and 15 and the adjoining edges 16 and 17 joined together by stitching as at 18 to provide an opening 19 therethrough. The front, depending tie portion 11 is formed from a similar fabric, having the upper end thereof hemmedas at 20. The upper end of portion 11 extends up through the lower end of opening 19 and is secured to the forwardly disposed, inner surface 21 of the knot portion, preferably by stitching the upper end of tie portion 11 to the upper and lower hems 14 and 15 of the knot portion.

Rigid plate member 13 may consist of any suitable rigid material such as metal and plastic, and includes a planar section 22 having an inverted, trapezoidal configuration, and a pair of converging flanges 23 and 24 formed integrally with the sides of planar section 22. Disposed on the inner surface 25 of planar section 22, intermediate the lower ends of flanges 23 and 24 is a receptacle 26 having an upwardly opening socket 27. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, plate member 13 is disposed within opening 19 of the knot portion, having the rear surface 28 of planar section 22 engaging the rear, inner surface of knot portion 10 and secured thereto by stitching 29 which passes through openings 30 provided in the planar section.

Rear, depending tie portion 12 consists of a narrow strip 31 of similar fabric doubled over and provided with a conventional zipper 32 to provide an interconnected section 33 passing through opening 19 in the knot portion and depending therefrom, and a neck embracing loop section 34. Zipper 32 consists of interlockable elements 35 secured along opposed, inner edges of doubled over strip 31, and a slide fastener 36. As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the slide fastener includes a camming element 37 through which interlockable elements 35 pass and are cammed together in interlocking relation upon relative movement between the slide fastener and the interlockable elements, and a gripping tab 38 pivotally connected to the camming element 37 and provided with an opening 39. Gripping tab 38 is adapted to be received within socket 27 of re ceptacle 26 so that the slide fastener is rigidly secured to plate member 13.

Gripping tab 38 may be retained in receptacle 27 by any suitable means. It may be press-fit into the socket or the socket may be provided with a protuberance therein which may be received within opening 39 when the gripping tab is inserted in the socket, to lock the gripping tab within the socket and secure the slide fastener to the plate member. Such a protuberance within socket 27 can be provided when the plate member initially is formed, usually by injection molding. Preferably, however, the gripping tab is secured within socket 27 by inserting the tab within the socket and then forc ing material from the front wall of the receptacle into opening 39 in the gripping tab, with a suitable tool such as a punch or a pair of pliers. This latter method of securing the gripping tab within the socket of the receptacle is most feasible in instances where the plate rnemher is formed of a plastic material and the front wall of the receptacle can easily be deformed to cause material to be forced within the opening 39 of the gripping tab.

When plate member 13 is secured on the knot portion within the opening therethrough and slide fastener 36 is secured to the plate member, it will be noted that the plate member functions to impart and maintain a proper shape to the knot portion and further provides a channel for converging the opposed, mating portions of the rear, depending tie portion and guiding the interlockable elements thereof toward the slide fastener.

In assembling the aforementioned embodiment of the invention from the components as described, the front, depending tie portion is first secured to the knot portion by stitching. Next, the rear, depending tie portion is secured to the plate member by inserting the gripping tab in socket 27 and locking the tab therein by means of one of the aforementioned methods. The plate member with the rear, depending tie portion secured thereto is then placed against the rear side of front, depending tie portion 11 and the ends of the strip forming the knot portion are folded across the back of the plate member and secured together by stitching to encompass the plate member with the rear, depending tie portion secured thereto within the knot portion. The embodiment is completed by stitching the rear side of the knot portion to the plate member.

Alternatively, the front, depending tie portion may be stitched to the piece forming the knot portion, the ends of the strip forming the knot portion may be brought together and stitched to provide the knot portion with the opening 19 therethrough, the rear,'depending tie portion may be secured to the plate member as aforementioned, the assembled rear, depending tie portion and plate member may be inserted through and positioned within opening 19 in the knot portion, and the necktie completed by stitching the rear side of the knot portion to the plate member.

In wearing the necktie as described, it is necessary only to grip the knot portion with one hand and to pull the loop section of tie portion 12 with the other hand to enlarge the opening of the loop enough to fit over the head of the wearer. The loop section is then maneuvered over the head of the wearer and fitted under the shirt collar in the conventional manner. Then, by grasping the lower end of the rear, depending tie portion with one hand, the knot portion may be moved upwardly and fitted under the neck of the wearer. To remove the necktie, it is necessary only to grasp the knot portion of the tie and move it downwardly to enlarge the opening in the loop section of the tie. The loop section then can be lifted and maneuvered over and off of the head of the wearer.

Although the plate member has been described as having an inverted, substantially trapezoidal configuration with converging side flanges, and mounted on the rear inner surface of the knot portion, it is to be understood that such member can have any suitable configuration and be secured to the knot portion anywhere within opening 19 and in any suitable manner. As previously stated, the plate member may be formed of any rigid material although it has been found most practical that such member be formed of plastic by injection molding. In addition, the knot and tie portions of the necktie may be formed from any material normally used in conventional neckties.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which will come within the province of those persons having ordinary skill in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A necktie comprising a knot portion having an opening therethrough, rigid body imparting means disposed in said opening and secured to said knot portion, a first depending tie portion secured to said knot portion, a second depending tie portion having a neck embracing loop extending through the opening in said knot portion, the lower inner edges of the neck embracing loop of said second depending tie portion having interlockable means, and means secured to said rigid means, within said opening and operatively connected to said interlockable means for interlocking and unlocking said interlockable means upon relative movement between said interlockable means and said interlocking and unlocking meansfor varying the size of said loop. a

2. A necktie according to claim 1 wherein said rigid means includes means for guiding said interlockable means together.

' 3. A necktie according toclaim 2 wherein said interlocking and locking means is disposed between said guide means. 7

4. A necktie according to claim 1 wherein said rigid member comprises a plate memberhaving converging side edges providing a converging configuration to said knot portion.

5. A necktie according to claim 4 wherein said plate member includes opposed, converging side flanges, and said interlocking and unlocking means is secured to said plate member between said converging side flanges.

v 6. A necktie according to claim 1 wherein said knot and depending tie portions are formed of a fabric material.

7. A necktie according to claim 1 wherein said interlockable means comprises interlocking elements of a zipper and said interlocking and unlocking means comprises a slide fastener of a zipper.

8. A necktie according to claim 7 wherein said rigid means includes means for guiding said interlockable elements toward's aid slide fastener.

9. A necktie according to claim 8 wherein said slide fastener is disposed between said guide means.

10. A necktie according to claim 7 wherein said rigid member comprises a plate member having converging sides providing a converging configuration to said knot portion. l

11. A necktie according to claim 10 whereinsaid plate member includes opposed, converging side flanges, and said slide fastener is secured to said plate member between said converging side flanges.

12. A necktie according to claim 7 wherein said knot and depending tie portions are formed of a fabric material.

13. A necktie according to claim 7 wherein said rigid means comprises a plate member having an inverted, substantially trapezoidal configuration, having flanges formed integrally therewith along the converging side edges, and wherein said slide fastener is secured to said plate member intermediate said converging flanges.

14. A necktie according to claim 7 wherein said slide fastener includes a gripping tab secured to said rigid means.

15. A necktie according to claim 14 wherein said rigid means includes means defining a socket, and wherein said gripping tab is received and locked within said socket. l

16. A necktie according to claim 15 wherein said gripping tab includes an opening, and said means defining a socket includes a protuberance extending into the opening in said gripping tab for locking the'gripping tab within said socket and correspondingly securing said slide'fastener to said rigid means.

17. A necktie according to claim 7 wherein said rigid means comprises a plate member having converging side flanges providing achannel, and said plate member includes means defininga socket disposed between said converging flanges, and wherein said slide fastener includes a gripping tab received within and locked within said socket whereby upon relative movement between said knot portion and said rear, depending tie portion, the section of said rear, depending tie portion passing through the opening of said knot portion will engage inner surfaces of said converging side flanges to guide the interlockable elements thereof toward said slide fastener.

18. A necktie according to claim 7 wherein said first, depending tie portion is secured to a back side of a front section of said knot portion, within said opening; said rigid means comprises a plate member secured to a front surface of a rear section of said knot portion, having converging side flanges, within said opening,

tener to said plate member. 

1. A necktie comprising a knot portion having an opening therethrough, rigid body imparting means disposed in said opening and secured to said knot portion, a first depending tie portion secured to said knot portion, a second depending tie portion having a neck embracing loop extending through the opening in said knot portion, the lower inner edges of the neck embracing loop of said second depending tie portion having interlockable means, and means secured to said rigid means, within said opening and operatively connected to said interlockable means for interlocking and unlocking said interlockable means upon relative movement between said interlockable means and said interlocking and unlocking means for varying the size of said loop.
 2. A necktie according to claim 1 wherein said rigid means includes means for guiding said interlockable means together.
 3. A necktie according to claim 2 wherein said interlocking and locking means is disposed between said guide means.
 4. A necktie according to claim 1 wherein said rigid member comprises a Plate member having converging side edges providing a converging configuration to said knot portion.
 5. A necktie according to claim 4 wherein said plate member includes opposed, converging side flanges, and said interlocking and unlocking means is secured to said plate member between said converging side flanges.
 6. A necktie according to claim 1 wherein said knot and depending tie portions are formed of a fabric material.
 7. A necktie according to claim 1 wherein said interlockable means comprises interlocking elements of a zipper and said interlocking and unlocking means comprises a slide fastener of a zipper.
 8. A necktie according to claim 7 wherein said rigid means includes means for guiding said interlockable elements toward said slide fastener.
 9. A necktie according to claim 8 wherein said slide fastener is disposed between said guide means.
 10. A necktie according to claim 7 wherein said rigid member comprises a plate member having converging sides providing a converging configuration to said knot portion.
 11. A necktie according to claim 10 wherein said plate member includes opposed, converging side flanges, and said slide fastener is secured to said plate member between said converging side flanges.
 12. A necktie according to claim 7 wherein said knot and depending tie portions are formed of a fabric material.
 13. A necktie according to claim 7 wherein said rigid means comprises a plate member having an inverted, substantially trapezoidal configuration, having flanges formed integrally therewith along the converging side edges, and wherein said slide fastener is secured to said plate member intermediate said converging flanges.
 14. A necktie according to claim 7 wherein said slide fastener includes a gripping tab secured to said rigid means.
 15. A necktie according to claim 14 wherein said rigid means includes means defining a socket, and wherein said gripping tab is received and locked within said socket.
 16. A necktie according to claim 15 wherein said gripping tab includes an opening, and said means defining a socket includes a protuberance extending into the opening in said gripping tab for locking the gripping tab within said socket and correspondingly securing said slide fastener to said rigid means.
 17. A necktie according to claim 7 wherein said rigid means comprises a plate member having converging side flanges providing a channel, and said plate member includes means defining a socket disposed between said converging flanges, and wherein said slide fastener includes a gripping tab received within and locked within said socket whereby upon relative movement between said knot portion and said rear, depending tie portion, the section of said rear, depending tie portion passing through the opening of said knot portion will engage inner surfaces of said converging side flanges to guide the interlockable elements thereof toward said slide fastener.
 18. A necktie according to claim 7 wherein said first, depending tie portion is secured to a back side of a front section of said knot portion, within said opening; said rigid means comprises a plate member secured to a front surface of a rear section of said knot portion, having converging side flanges, within said opening, said second, depending tie portion consists of a strip doubled over and provided with said interlocking elements along opposed, inner edges thereof, a front surface of said plate member is provided with means defining a socket, disposed between the side flanges of said plate member, said slide fastener includes a gripping tab having an opening therethrough, inserted within said socket, and said means defining said socket includes a protuberance projecting into the opening of said gripping tab to secure the gripping tab within the socket and correspondingly rigidly secure the slide fastener to said plate member. 